Improvement in windmills



IJNrrED SfrAfra-is PATENT Orrreric MERRITTJ. COVELL, OF SYOAMORE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT INWINDMILLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,271, dated September 19, 1876; application filed April 27, 1,876.

' accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates, rst, to means for equalizing the weight or strain of the yoke or stand, in which the main crank-shaft of the mills revolves, upon the revoluble head to which the vane is rigidly attached, and Vto means whereby the said shaft is prevented from at any time occupying a position parallel with thecenter line of the vane, or one in which the sails Vwould revolve in a plane at a right angle therewith, as and foi` purposes hereinafter described.

My invention relates, secondly, to certain devices adapted for use in the folding of 'the mill or the operation of swinging the said shaft to a position at a right angle with the vane, in order that the sails may be uniniiuenced by the wind and the machinervstopped.

In the description of my invention which follows due reference must be had to the accompanying'drawing, forming a part of this specitlcatiomand in which- Figure lis a side view of my improved windmill with the sails facing the wind 5 Fig. 2, a 4view of the reverse side of the mill with the sails folded; and Fig. 3, a plan of a portion of the mill.

' extends downwardly from a part of the yoke E, and is adapted at the lower end to carry a roller or wheel, a. `The roller a rests upon and, in the vrevoluble movement of the yoke independently of the vane-head C, traverses the circular track b, secured to the said head,

for the purpose of equalizing the weight or strain of the yoke upon the parts supporting it, land to counteract the tendency of the side of the yoke from which the end of the shaft extending tothe sails projects to droop or sink by reason of its superior weight. I is a stop on the lower part of the yoke E, for the purpose of limiting the independent movement of the yoke before alluded to, by coining into contact with the ends of the track b.

connected, by a rod, K', to an eye projecting from a part of the yoke E. A rope or wire, L, is also attached to the upper end of the bent lever K, and. passes over a sheave, L', i

supported in a strap extending from the vanehead C to the ground. Bymeans of this rope or wire the mill is folded-that is, the shaft and Vsails and vane are placed in the relative positions sho'wn in Fig. 2, and the edge of the sails brought to the wind.

The object in preventing the sails from at any time exposing a full surface to the wind, .or allowing the plane of revolution of the sails tocome at a right angle with the direction of the same, is to allow of the sails being forced by excessive pressure of the wind toward the position which they occupy in Fig. 2, whereby the strain upon them is reduced. i

This arrangement of parts also provides for the speed of the mill being governed by the position of .the weighton the lever K, as in the movement of the sails, as described, the weighted lever K is elevated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimv as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The yoke E, provided with 'the roller a,

incombination withithe track b, secured to the vane-head-C, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In combination with the vane-head G and track b, the stop I, projecting from they'oke E, adapted to limit the movement of'the'yoke and attachments independently of the said Vane-head, substantially as and vfor 'the purpose specified.

3. In combination'withthe yoke "Eandvanef D, the bent weighted lever K, rod K', Aand.

rope or Wire L, adapted to regulate the relative positions of the vane andyoke, with its attachments, substantially as and for the=pur pose lee't forth.

'In testimonywhereof Ihave hereunto subscribed my name this v18th day of' April, A.

MERRITT J. GOVELL.

Witnesses:

N. J. VAN VLEET, "W, SsGovELL. 

